System Center 2012 R2 Licensing Datasheet

System Center 2012 R2 Licensing Product Overview

System Center 2012 R2 offers solutions for managing datacenter resources, private clouds, and client devices.

Private Cloud/Datacenter Management

System Center helps your organization achieve IT as a Service by enabling:
▲ Productive infrastructure: Deliver flexible, cost-effective private-cloud infrastructure to your business units in a self-service model, while carrying forward your existing data center investments.
▲ Predictable applications: Deep application insight combined with a “service-centric” approach helps you deliver predictable application-service levels.
▲ Cloud computing on your terms: Deliver and consume private and public cloud computing on your terms with common management experiences across your hybrid environments.

Client Management

System Center helps IT empower people to use the devices and applications they need to be productive, while maintaining corporate compliance and control.

Licensing Overview

System Center is licensed by:
▲ License required only for endpoints being managed. No additional licenses are needed for management servers or SQL Server technology.
▲ Consistent licensing model across editions. Processor-based license, covering up to two processors for server management. User- or OSE- based license for client management.

Licensing Managed Servers

System Center server management licensing maximizes your private cloud value while simplifying purchasing. All server management licenses (SMLs) include the same components and the ability to manage any workload. System Center SMLs will be released in two editions differentiated by virtualization rights only:
▲ Datacenter: Maximizes cloud capacity with unlimited virtualization for high density private clouds
▲ Standard: For lightly or non-virtualized private cloud workloads.

Server ML Edition Comparison:

Components included in the Server MLs are not available separately.

Determining the Number of Licenses Needed

Server MLs are required for managed devices that run server Operating System Environments (OSEs). Licenses are processor-based, with each license covering up to two physical processors. The number of Server MLs required for each managed server is determined by the number of physical processor in the server for Datacenter Edition and either number of physical processors in the server or number of OSEs being managed for Standard Edition (whichever is greater). If you choose the Standard Server ML, you can add more licenses to a server to manage a greater number of virtual OSEs.

Multiple System Center 2012 R2 Standard licenses may be assigned to the same server to license the number of managed OSEs. Components included in the Server MLs are not available separately.

Flexibility to License Managed OSEs Running on Public Cloud Platforms

All System Center 2012 R2 Server Management Licenses with active Software Assurance qualify for License Mobility
through Software Assurance benefits. With the License Mobility through Software Assurance benefit, you can assign Server MLs to manage applications running on a public cloud infrastructure.
For more information, see the Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance Customer Guide.

Transitioning to the New Server Licensing Model

If you have Software Assurance coverage on your current System Center licenses at the time of System Center 2012
R2 General Availability, you will receive the following System Center 2012 R2 Server ML grants listed below:

You may migrate from System Center 2012 R2 Standard to System Center 2012 R2 Datacenter by purchasing a Step-
Up License.

Licensing Managed Clients

Client Management Licenses (MLs) are required for managed devices that run non-server OSEs. There are three System Center 2012 R2 Client ML offerings:

Client MLs are available on a per-OSE or per-user basis. Components included in the Client MLs are not available
separately.

Transitioning to the New Client Licensing Model

If you have Software Assurance coverage on your current System Center licenses at the time of System Center 2012
R2 General Availability, you will receive the following System Center 2012 R2 Client ML grants listed in the following table:

Planning for System Center 2012 R2

If you are planning to deploy System Center , either through upgrades or new licenses, please
remember:
▲ Renewing Software Assurance (SA) is the best way to protect investments and provide access to new
versions as well as Deployment Planning Services and technical assistance.
▲ Select your edition of System Center based on virtualization rights:
o Datacenter Edition for highly virtualized private clouds
o Standard Edition for lightly or non-virtualized private clouds
▲ Core CAL and Enterprise CAL Suites will continue to be the most cost effective way to purchase client
management products.
▲ Find out how flexible payments can help you get the IT you need and stay on budget.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What’s new in System Center 2012 R2 server management licensing?
A: System Center 2012 R2 server management licensing does not change from System Center 2012.
Q: Can you describe the product editions offered with System Center 2012 R2?
A: Same as System Center 2012, System Center 2012 R2 server management licenses will be released in 2 editions differentiated by virtualization rights only:
▲ Datacenter: Maximizes cloud capacity with unlimited Operating System Environments (OSEs) for high density private clouds
▲ Standard: For lightly or non-virtualized private cloud workloads.
There is no differentiation between the types of workloads you can manage with either edition. The only difference between the editions is the number of Operating System Environments (OSEs) that you can manage per license. Datacenter Edition allows the management of an unlimited number of OSEs per license. Standard Edition allows the management of up to two OSEs per license.
Q: How do I determine the number of Server Management Licenses (MLs) I need?
A: Server MLs are required for managed devices that run server OSEs. Licenses are processor-based, with each license covering up to two physical processors. The number of Server MLs required for each managed server is determined by the number of physical processors in the server for Datacenter Edition and either number of physical processors in the server or number of OSEs being managed for Standard Edition (whichever is greater).
▲ System Center 2012 R2 Datacenter
Each license covers up to two physical processors, so you must count the number of physical processors on the server, divide that number by two, round up to the nearest whole number, and acquire and assign that number of licenses to your server.
Provided you acquire and assign to your server the required number of Datacenter edition server management licenses, as described above, you may manage any number of OSEs on that server.
▲ System Center 2012 R2 Standard
For each managed server count the number of physical processors and the number of managed OSE’s. You need the number of licenses to cover the greater number (processors or OSE’s).

Q: Can I purchase each of the System Center 2012 R2 Server Management License components separately?
A: No. The System Center 2012 R2 Server Management components are part of an integrated offering to create and manage private cloud environments and are available only as part of System Center 2012 R2 Standard and System Center Datacenter MLs.
Q: Can I split 2012 R2 Server MLs across multiple servers?
A: No, a single Server ML may not be used to license two one-processor servers.
Q: Can I assign more than one System Center 2012 R2 Standard license to the same server to increase the number of OSEs I may manage?
A: Yes. The breakeven point for moving to SC 2012 R2 Datacenter is 7 VMs per host.
Q: How much do the Server MLs cost?
A: The Microsoft Volume Licensing Open License No Level (NL) U.S. Estimated Retail Price (ERP) is $1,323 for System Center Standard and $3,607 for System Center Datacenter. For your specific pricing, contact your Microsoft reseller. Actual prices may vary. Microsoft does not determine pricing or payment terms for licenses acquired through resellers.
Q: Can I extend a Server ML to manage applications running on the public cloud?
A: Yes, with the License Mobility through Software Assurance benefit, you can assign Server ML to manage applications running on a public cloud infrastructure. System Center Standard licenses allow you to manage two virtual OSE in a public cloud, while System Center Datacenter licenses allow you to manage up to eight virtual OSEs in a public cloud. When managing applications running on Azure, each Azure instance is considered to be one virtual OSE. For more information, see the Microsoft License Mobility through Software Assurance Customer Guide.

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